Game



O. L. KLEIN Jan 28, 11936.

GAME

Filed Aug. 20, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTOR Y.

IN VEN TOR.

Jan. 28, 1936. O KLElN 2,029,107

GAME

Filed Aug. 20, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 3. JZ m /5 23 k 1 ml I'll II I p.

IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 20,

13 Claims.

This invention relates to games, and particularly to that class of games which rely largely upon the skill of the individual player, rather than the element of chance or luck, for successful play.

The object of the invention is to provide a game which may be played by two or more persons and in which the player having the more acutely developed sense of direction and distance is rewarded for his ability to shoot projectiles at given objects.

More particularly the invention provides a perpendicular game card having a series of projectile receiving apertures and control keys disposed thereon and the employment of a pair of catapults for the purpose of propelling projectiles at the said game board.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game board of the type referred to in which the individual players are first required to qualify before proceeding in the effort to score, and secondly, a game in which the player qualifying temporarily disqualifies his opponent.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a game of its class which may be folded up and easily transported.

Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my game set up in playing position,

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the game board portion of the invention completely folded up and ready to be transported, c

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the game board, taken along line III-III of Figure 8,

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the game board taken along line IV-IV of Figure 8,

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line VV of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 3,

Figure '7 is a section taken along the line VII-VII of Figure 3,

Figure 8 is a plan view of a part of the game board taken along the line VIIIVIII of Figure 4,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of 50 one of the control levers and the mechanisms associated therewith and effected thereby,

Figure 10 is a longitudinal section of the catapult employed in playing my game,

Figure 11 is a top-plan View, partly in section, of the catapult,

1934, Serial No. 740,583

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification of the elevation adjustment for the propelling lever, and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of my catapult set up before the gameboard illustrated in Figure 1.

As shown in the drawings, the gameboard has a playing surface I l which forms the front cover of a box or housing l2 having a rear cover M, a top l5, and a bottom 16.

To provide a complete enclosure for the gameboard, and particularly the playing surface thereof and the members projecting therefrom, I employ the auxiliary front cover, [7, hinged as at it to the extension IQ of the bottom [6. It will be noted that the auxiliary cover I1 is provided with a pair of side pieces 2!] and 2|, which are adapted to lay flush against similar pieces 22, disposed at the ends of the playing surface I l to increase the thickness of the auxiliary box formed by the folding of the auxiliary front cover ll. An auxiliary top 23 is hinged to the top I 5 and provided with a latch 24 adapted to engage an eye 25 disposed on the corresponding edge of the front cover ll.

As shown in Figure 1 the auxiliary front cover I! is adapted to fold outwardly, and the front end thereof rests upon the floor or ground when the game is set up in playing position, at a slight incline from the vertical surface of the gameboard.

As will also be noted from Figure 1, the targets employed in the game consist of a left ball aperture or hole 26, a right ball aperture 21, a centrally disposed ball hole 28, and a pair of levers 29 and 30.

The left, right and central holes are formed by short lengths of rubber tubing 3|, projecting through the playing surface H at oblique angles and supported in that position by the blocks 32, the lower portions of which are angled off to rest upon the tubes 3|. Screws 33 connect the said blocks to the inner surface of the cover or playing surface ll.

Also each of the left and right ball chutes is provided with a ball deflecting skirt 34 attached to and dependent from the blocks 32.

A tiltable ball race 35 is pivotally mounted between a plate 35, disposed on the inner side of the playing surface II, and an angular piece 3'! by means of a pin 38 passing therethrough. The plate 35 and the piece 3'! are joined at their lower ends by the screws 39 turned into the cover II. The ends of said ball race extend outwardly therefrom to points beneath the left and right ball holes or chutes. This ball race is divided or rather defined into three ball-directing sections 4G, 4! and 42, by means of a series of barriers 43, 44 and 45, respectively. The barriers 43 and 45 define sections of the trough 35 beneath the left and right ball chutes 26 and 2'! and receive balls coming therethrough, the weight of the latter causing said trough to swing downwardly about its pivot and discharge the ball therefrom into the vertically disposed ball races 46 and 41. The latter discharge the ball through the vents 43 and 49 in the playing surface H.

The ball races 46 and 41 are formed by the strips 56, attached at their upper ends to the blocks 32, bent outwardly, as at 5!, opposite the ends of the ball race 35 and tapered inwardly towards the bottom to partially encircle the vents 48 and 49. The ends of the strips 50 terminate in the inwardly curved pieces 52 partially overlying the vents 48 and 49 to prevent balls directed thereto from bouncing out of line. The lower ends of the races 45 and 41 are secured to the inner surface of the playing surface H by means of the ear 53 and the screws 54. Checks 55 vertically disposed adjacent the lower ends of the strips 50 serve to support the ends of the race 35 when the latter is in tilted position.

Attached to the ball race 35, adjacent its two ends and directly beneath the left and right ball holes or chutes 25 and 2? I provide tags 56 adapted to bear colors or numerals and visible to the players through the apertures 51 in the playing surface H, for the purpose of indicating the position of the ball race or trough 35.

Appurtenant to the'central ball hole 28, a ball chute 58 is provided, the same being adapted to overlay that section of the ball race 35 defined by the barriers 44. The ball chute tapers toward its bottom and is there flared or enlarged to form a cover 59 for the section M of the trough 35. For the purpose of retaining the central ball chute 58 in vertical alignment with the section of the trough just mentioned, when the cover i4'is in place, I provide a spring member fill, attached to the bottom of the chute 58 and bent outwardly therefrom to press against the rear cover l4.

Apertures 6! in the bottomof the ball race or trough 35, in the area defined by the barriers 44 permit balls to drop into the lower races 63. and 64, respectively, according to the tilt of the race 35, and to escape from the latter through the vents B5 and 66 in the playing surface H.

.The races 63 and 64 are formed by simply bending thin strips of metal or other suitable material, the one end of which has been attached to the plates 36 and 31 downwardly about the vents 65 and 66 and upwardly for'substantially an equal distance or height on the opposite side thereof. No cover is necessary for these races inasmuch as rear cover I 4 of the box serves that purpose.

It will be noted that the trough or race 35 is adapted to bear against the tips of the tail pieces' A spring member 73, secured at.

slotted tubes 14 seated in a plate 15 hinged to the playing surface H, above the vents 65 or 66,

and adapted to be folded upwardly thereagainst, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. The plate 15 is apertured and the open ends of the tubes are set opposite the vents 65 and 66, through which the balls roll. The slots in the tubes 14 permit constant tally of the score as the game progresses. At the same time, the balls are readily released at the beginning of a new game by simply tilting the tubes upwardly whereupon the ba ls escape at the open ends and roll down'the inclined surface of the auxiliary front cover ll.

A shield 16 is hinged to the playing surface H and when folded downwardly-it covers the slot between the inner edge of the auxiliary cover I! and the playing surface H, permitting the free return of all balls save those shot into the central or scoring hole 28, to run down the incline as further available ammunition.

I also provide the triangular side walls 71 of fabric or some equally flexible material, to prevent the returning balls from rolling off to the side. When the game is folded, these fold inwardly.

The catapult employed in connection with my game comprises a base 89 on which a housing 8| containing the throwing mechanism is pivotally mounted, as at 82. A throwing lever 83, having a ball. seat 84, is pivotally mounted, as at 85, and urged into throwing position by a spring 86 connected to the bottom of inner frame 89. A trigger 81 pivotally connected to the frame 89, rides V in the slots 88 in the latter and has a digit engageable member 95. A spring 9| connected at one end to an ear 92, turned out of the frame 89, urges the trigger into engagement with the lever As previously said, the housing 3| is swingably mounted on the base 80, which permits direc tional range finding. Trajectional range is determined, in the preferred form of the invention (Figure 10) by means of the angularly disposed screw 93, set at the rear of the housing 8|. This screw is provided with a threaded portion which turns through a threaded member 94, and terminates in a tip turning freely in a socket 95 at the bottom of the housing 8 i. The memberSl is placed between the doubled back portion 9! of the frame 89 which is slotted as at 98 to accommodate the angle of the screw 93 during adjustment. The turning of the screw 93, it is obvious, will change the angle of the stroke of the lever 83 as desired.

To define the end of the stroke of the lever 83' I have provided a loop 99, provided with a suitable check Hit.

A modification of the trajectional adjustment means is illustrated in Figure 12 of the drawings. Here a set screw I9 I, is turned through the topof the loop 99 to abut the lever 83 and define the length of stroke of the latter. this form, it will be understood that the screw 13 and its appurtenant mechanism are discarded.

In employing While it will be appreciated that the question of rules and methods of scoring may be left up to the individual players without detracting from the pleasure to be derived from it, I will outline the rule I have adopted as a result of the experience of many games.

Two catapults are set up facing the playing surface H of the game. The starting levers 29 and are set in their uppermost position looking the ball race in a horizontal plane. Ihe players now start shooting balls at the keys on their respective sides of the board as the first step to effect release of the ball race 35 in favor of the first to make a hit.

Depression of one of the keys results in the tilting of the ball race 35 due to the action of the spring 13 on the opposing lever which causes the latter to be raised sufficiently to swing the ball race around its pivot.

The player accomplishing this then proceeds to direct his shots toward the central ball aperture 2B, the balls running therefrom into his scoring tube 14.

Meanwhile, the opposing player has been endeavoring to depress his key 29 or 30. Assuming that he accomplishes this, his next move is to aim at his starting hole in that a successful shot will tilt the ball race 35 in his favor, putting him in a position to shoot at the scoring hole 28, and at the same time closing the scoring hole to theopposition. The latter is then obliged to direct his shots toward his starting hole to swing the ball race 35 in his favor.

It will be readily understood that the dimensions of my game may be increased for play in the open air at carnivals and the like with only minor changes and without departing from the principle of the invention. Also that the actual scoring is left to the wishes of the players, although I have found that a convenient method is a long game of 21 points and a short game of 11 points.

Success in playing my game depends, in a considerable degree, upon the skill of the individual in directing his shots and particularly in his ability to adjust his range during ordinary speed of the game.

I have found that the game can be successfully played with ball bearings because of their uniform size and weight, but there is no doubt that any spherical object in which these two factors are present will be wholly satisfactory.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and now desire to secure by grant of Letters Patent is:

1. In a game, a vertically disposed playing surface having a series of apertures therein, a plurality of ball return guides, a plurality of ball retainers, two or more of said apertures being in constant communication with said ball return guides, and means whereby one of said apertures will be put into communication with at least one of said ball retainers.

2. In a game, a playing surface, a pair of qualifying holes therein, a scoring hole therein, said scoring hole being communicable with a pair of ball retainers, a tiltable ball race connected to the reverse side of said playing surface, ball guides between said qualifying and scoring holes and said tiltable ball race, depressible members supporting said ball race in a horizontal position and projecting through said playing surface, and means whereby the depression of one of said supporting means Will cause the opposing supporting means to tilt said race in the direction of the depressed member.

3. In a game, a playing surface, a pair of qualifying holes therein, a scoring hole therein, said scoring hole being communicable with a pair of ball retainers, a tiltable ball race disposed on the reverse side of said playing surface, apertured sections in said ball race adapted to receive and discharge balls dropping through said scoring hole, and means whereby a ball dropping through one of said qualifying holes will cause said ball race to be tilted and establish communication between said scoring hole and one of said ball retainers.

4. In a game, a playing surface, a pair of qualifying holes, a scoring hole therein, a pair of ball retainers, said scoring hole being communicable with said ball retainers, a tiltable ball race disposed on the reverse side of said playing surface, apertured sections in said ball race adapted to receive and discharge balls dropping through said scoring hole, ball guides between said holes and said sections of said ball race, and means whereby a ball dropping through one of said qualifying holes Will cause said ball race to be tilted and establish communication between said scoring hole and one of said ball retainers.

5. In a game, a playing surface, a pair of qualifying holes, a scoring hole therein, a pair of ball retainers, said scoring hole being communicable with said ball retainers, a tiltable ball race disposed on the reverse side of said playing surface, apertured sections in said ball race adapted to receive and discharge balls dropping through said scoring hole, ball guides between said holes and said sections of said ball race, and means whereby a ball dropping through one of said qualifying holes will cause said ball race to be tilted and establish communication between said scoring hole and one of said ball retainers through one of said apertured sections in said ball race.

6. In a game, a playing surface having apertures therein, a tiltable ball race associated with said playing surface and adapted to receive projectiles fired through said apertures, ball retainers being adapted to be put into communication with said ball race, a plurality of means for retaining said ball race in a horizontal position, said means projecting from the face of said playing surface and being depressible, and means whereby depression of one of said means will tilt said ball race and establish communication between said ball race and one of said ball retainers.

7 In a game, a vertically disposed playing surface having apertures therein, ball retainers associated therewith, a tiltable ball race associated with said playing surface and adapted to receive projectiles fired through said apertures, a plurality of means for retaining said ball race in a horizontal position, said means projecting from the face of said playing surface and being depressible, and means whereby depression of one of said means will tilt said ball race and establish communication between said ball race and one of said ball retainers.

8. In a game, a playing surface having apertures therein, a tiltable ball race associated with said playing surface and adapted to receive projectiles fired through said apertures, a plurality of depressible means for retaining said ball race in a horizontal position, and means whereby the depression of one of said means will tilt said ball race to the corresponding side of said playing surface.

9. In a game, a playing surface,a plurality of qualifying holes therein, a scoring hole therein, said scoring hoie being communicable with a pair of ball retainers, a tiltable ball race connected to said playing-surface, ball races on said playing surface adjacent to said qualifying and said scor= ing hcies, depressible members supporting said tiltable ball race in horizontal position, said depressible members projecting through said playing surface, and means whereby the depression of one of said depressible members tilting said ball race in favor of the corresponding ball retainer.

10. In a game, a playing surface, a tiltable ball race disposed on the reverse side of said play= ing surface, said ball race having a series of sections defined therein and apertured therethrough, a series of apertures in said playing surface, each of said apertures being communicable with a corresponding section in said ball race, ball retainers disposed below said playing surface and communicable with two of said sections in said race, and means whereby said tiltable ball race will be tilted in favor of one of the ball retainers.

11. In a game, a piaying surface, apair of qualifying holes therein, a scoring hole therein; said scoring hole being communicable with a pair of ball retainers, a tiltable ball race disposed on the reverse side of said playing surface, apertured sections in said ball race adapted to receive and discharge balls dropping through said scoring hole, a pair of apertures in said playing surface within the radius of the movement of said tiltable ball race, and indicator means on said ball race visible through one of said East named apertures to indicate the position of said ball race.

12. In a game, a playing surface, a pair of qualifying holes therein, apertures in said playing surface for return of balls fired through said qualifying holes, a scoring hole in said playing surface, ball retainers communicable with said sccring hole, a tiltable ball race on the reverse side of said playing surface, end sections in said ball race adapted to receive balls fired through said qualifying holes and discharge same through said return apertures, and a medial apertured section in said ball race adapted to receive balls fired through said scoring hole and discharge same into a selected ball retainer.

13. In a game, a piaying surface, a pair of qualifyin holes therein, return apertures in said playing surface for balls fired through said qualifying holes, a scoring hole in said playing surface, ball retainers communicable with said scoring hole, a tiltable ball race on the reverse side of said playing surface, end sections in said ball race adapted to receive balls fired through said qualifying holes and discharge same through said return apertures, a medial apertured section in said. ball race adapted to receive balls fired threugh said scoring hole and discharge same into a selected ball retainer, and ball actuated stops normally retaining said tiltable ball races in a horizontal plane with respect to said playing surface.

OTTO LUDWIG KLEIN. 

